2 Timothy 1-2 "Mentor/Advisor"

Whether you have a mentor or someone you talk to and they advise you or push you into the right direction; your relationship is similar to that of Paul's and Timothy's. Paul sets up a beautiful(I can spell that word really quickly now thanks to Bruce Almighty) example of how to lead those younger than you. He uses many of the proven methods of teaching of today, giving examples of his life, relating it back to God, and using the "We" instead of "You."

But what I think mentors don't do today and something Paul did without thinking was demand 100% effort from Timothy and his devotion to becoming a better person and following his lord. Paul writes.

4 A soldier does not take part in things that don't have anything to do with the army. He wants to please his commanding officer. 5 In the same way, anyone who takes part in a sport doesn't receive the winner's crown unless he plays by the rules. 6 The farmer who works hard should be the first to receive a share of the crops.

Paul speaks as though it is expected Timothy lay his life down and follow Christ. He should! Timothy knows the truth and as such a good "soldier should follow, or lead others but still follow, Christ Jesus. Often I see mentors talking to their respective youth and they are asking things in a non-treatening way (which is good) but leaving it up to the youth to decide (which they should) but they don't push hard enough to stir the inner motivation.

To me once you start stirring the inner motivation in a child then they will search on their own, no one will do anything for a long period of time unless they want to. A child will become better at a sport he/she loves faster than a sport he/she hates even if the same amount of practice is given to each.

Mentors Read 2 Timothy 1-2 and learn from Paul, you may be doing everything right but chances are you are human, so read it again.